About Jamie D. Aten

Dr. Aten’s primary professional interests focus on the integration of psychological science and theology, with an emphasis on disaster mental health and trauma. Dr. Aten first became involved in applied disaster research and training after moving to South Mississippi just six days before Hurricane Katrina struck. Within a few weeks he became active in studying and joining the church and community response to address the overwhelming spiritual and emotional needs left behind in the wake of the storm. Since that time, through various roles and capacities, he has been active in responses to a number of other disasters, including Hurricanes Rita and Gustav, H1N1 pandemic, 2010 Mississippi Delta and 2011 Alabama Tuscaloosa Tornadoes, Civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Japan Tsunami and Earthquake, and New Zealand and Haiti Earthquakes.

Personally, he grew up in a small rural farming community in Southeastern Illinois. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, reading, and listening to jazz. Dr. Aten has also been an avid Chicago Cubs fan since childhood, to which he jokingly attributes his interest in disasters and trauma work.

Courses Taught

PSYC 618 Clinical Research Design

PSYC 632 Situational and Developmental Crises in Families

PSYC 715 Professional Development and Ethics II

PSYC 718 Clinical Research Methods and Program Evaluation

Membership in Professional Societies

American Psychological Association

APA Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)

Christian Association for Psychological Studies

Research

Dr. Aten founded and co-directs the Humanitarian Disaster Institute. HDI’s mission is to equip the church, both domestic and international, to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. HDI’s research focuses on both the psychology of religion and disasters as well as more community-based and applied research. He has also written widely on the integration of psychology and theology, applying lessons learned from disaster research to broader forms of trauma in psychotherapy and clinical supervision. Overall, Dr. Aten has been awarded over $2 million in external funding by numerous state, federal, and non-profit organizations to study and support disaster preparedness and response activities of churches and faith-based organizations around the globe. Dr. Aten was also recently appointed to the Faith Based Learning Collaborative for decreasing health disparities sponsored by SAMHSA and as an inaugural editorial board of Spirituality in Clinical Practice (an American Psychological Association journal). For his work with faith-based organizations after Hurricane Katrina, he was recognized with the Mutual of America Merit Finalist Award. More recently, he received the American Psychological Association’s Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)Margaret Gorman Early Career Award for his research on the psychology of religion and disasters.

Aten, J. (Principal-Investigator), & Topping, S. (Co-Investigator) (2008-2009). Response of the Episcopal Church to Hurricane Katrina: Parish, Pastoral, Diocesan, and National Lessons Learned. General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States. Funded $64,000.

O’Grady, Aten, J., & Worthington, E., Jr. (2011). Bridging the gap between research andpractice in the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 387-396). In J. Aten, K.,O’Grady, & E. Worthington, Jr. (Eds.), The psychology of religion and spirituality for clinicians: Using research in your practice. New York: Routledge.

Aten, J. (2012). Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care In Professional Psychology: A Christian Integrative Approach. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 40, 1301-135.
Aten, J. (2012). More than Research and Ruble: How Community Research Can Change Lives (Including Yours and Your Students). Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 31, 314-319.

*Curtis, J. B., Aten, J. D., & Boan, D. (March, 2012). The role of the church in spiritual and emotional disaster care: A review. Poster presented at the International Convention for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Washington, DC.